Line-space-tabulating mechanism



H. A. FOOTHORAP LINE SPACE TABULATING MECHANISM Filed April 50, 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 1 jig/Z Oct. 26 1926.

H. A. FOOTHORAP LINE) SPACE TABULATING MECHANISM Filed April 50, 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 2 [N VEN T 0R -1ttomey Oct. 26, 1926. 1,601.81 7

H., A. FOOTHORAP LINE SPACE TABULATING MECHANISM Filed April 30, 1923 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Fill-111111 3] 1.4411110 m mmuemeuaw Patented Uct. 26,1926.

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i 1 HARRY AJFOQTHORAP, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10ELLIOTT- FISHER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELQWARE.

LINE-SPACE-TABULATING MECEANXQM.

Application filed April 30, 1923. Serial Ito, 685,6M.

This invention relates to line space-tabulating mechanism fortypewriting and simrlar machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a series of key controlledstops for variably determining the location of lines of writing in amanner generally similar to the determination of column or otherpositions by what is known as letter-space tabulating mechanism.

A subordinate object is to provide for the bodily adjustment of theentire series of stops to accommodate variations of the work sheets asfor instance, variations of the line locations on piinted forms.

Another subordinate object is to providefor the retention in operativeposition of any stop operated and to accomplish the release andrestoration of said stop to its normal in operative position upon themovement of anotherstop to its active or arresting position.

Other subordinate objects will appear as the necessity for theiraccomplishment develops.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a flat platen typewriterequipment with line space tabulating mechanism in accordance with myinvention. v

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a longitudinalsectional View through the tabulator.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line H of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is an elevation of one end of the tabulator with the coverplate removed.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail perspective views of the stops.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the sto locking blade an itsmounting.

in igure 9 is a perspective view or the tabulator black.

Figure 10 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the line spaceframe is gibbed to the platen frame.

Figures 11 and 12 are detail perspective views of the tabulatorsupporting brackets.

Figure 13 is a detail perspective View of the traveling stop.

As premised, my line space tabulator is designed, more particularly, forflat platen typewriters and is therefore shown applied to theElliott-Fisher machine of commerce. It is not original with me to equipa machine having both letter and line spacing movements with line spacetabulating mechanism in addition to the usual letter space tabulatingmechanism. This broad conception is shown in Patent No. 856,344; datedJune 11, 1907, to J. Halle.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a flat platen provided, as usual, with aplaten frame, the side members of which constitute rails 2 havingtoothed upper edges 3 which engage the unions [of a line spacingmechanism carried by the line space frame 4 which travels longitudinallyof the platen 1. and supports a carriage movable transversely of theplaten to letter space the writing, and equi ped with printing mechanismand the usua ancillary mechanisms of the flat platen typewriterincluding letter space tabulating mechanism which arrests the carriageat predetermined positions in a manner Well understood in the art. It isto facilitate the tabulating or positioning of the frame 4longitudinally ot theplaten and the consequent 9 carries a series oftabulator stops 10 equidistantly spaced'longitudinally of the platen andsurmounted by keys 10 in staggered arrangement and bearing consecutivenumbers or other designations leading forwardly from the rear end of theseries. The whole series of stops -10 is designed to have slightadjustment as a unit longitudinally of the platen.- This adjustment isdesirable to accommodate variations in the work sheets, as for instance,in the location of the printed lines on a series of forms. Thisadjustment is effected by the rotation of a knurled head 7* screwed,upon the trunnion 7 and bearin against the bracket 5, it beingunderstoo of course, that the interval between the brackets 5 and 6 issufficient toaccommodat-e the adjustment of the block 9 to position thestops as stated. The trunnions 7 and 8 are provided with flattenedportions 7 a and 8 for engagement with looking screws 5 and 6 carried bythe brackets 5. The stops 10 are in the form of angular plates (seeFigs. 6 and 7) and are accommodated in ides 9' formed in the outer sideand top of the block 9. The horizontal upper portions 10 of the stopsare normally held in elevated or inactive positions by springs 11 forwhich seats 9 are formed in the block 9. The upper ends of the springs11 preferably engage projections 10 on the stops as shown in Fig. 4 andthe upward movement of the stops under the impulse of the springs 11 islimited by projections 10 formed at the lower ends of the stops andengaging an under face 9 of the block 9. As best shown in Fig. 9 theouter side face of the block 9 is formed with a longitudinal recess.

or pocket 9* for the accommodation of a stop looking blade 12 havingterminal openings 12 ad] acent to its upper edge to receive pins ortrunnions 12" extendin from blocks 12 screwed to the inner wall of therecess 9".

The stop blade 12 constitutes, ineft'ect, a pawl common to all of thestops 10 each of which has two teeth 13 and 13 toward which the lockingblade is yieldingly urged by spring pressed plungers 12 set in plungersockets 9 in the block. Any appropriate means for confining the stops 10in their guides may be provided, but by preference, a cover plate 14 issuitably secured to the outer face of the block 9. In the normal orelevated positions of the stops 10, the locking blade 12 engages thelower teeth of the stops, and under these conditions the lowerhorizontal end 15 of a traveling stop 15 carried by the line space frame4 (see Fig. 4) will move freely within a guideway 9 formed in the innerface of'the block 9 below the normally located effective portions 10 ofthe stops. the stop keys 1O is depressed, the effective portion 10 ofthe attached stop will be depressed (see dotted lines in Fig. 4) intointerfering or obstructing relation to the traveling stop 15 and will belocked in its effective position by the engagement of the locking blade12 w1th the upper tooth 13 of the depress d stop. If noivthe line spacecarriage is advanced it will be arrested at the proper point by theengagement of the traveling stop 15 with the operated tabulator stop.

Attention is now directed to the fact that if a stop is set the linespace frame may he moved to bring it intoengagement with the stop. .Thenecessity for holding the stop down during this manipulation of the ma-If, however, one of mortal! chine is ;avoided by the provision forlochinw sition. Such release is automatically fected by the operation ofthe neat tahulaim stop. That is to say when a stop is "e pressed it notonly moves into efiective tion, but automatically efi'ects the relea astop previously operated and locked.

interaction of the stops will be clearly derstood by reference to Fig.4. It we seen that operating in the manner of a paw the stop lookingblade 12 normally enga the lower tooth 13 will be cammed each as thestop moves downward, until it can swing into engagement with the upperteeth to lock the step down. Obviously, when the next stop is depressedthe blade 12 will be swung back in exactly the same manner, and

as soon as it has moved out of engagement with the stop previouslylocked by it, said last named stop will obviously be retracted to normalposition. In other wordspthe ole ression of any stop will cam thelocking lade out of. engagement with the previously operated stop sothat when any stop is moved to its operative position itrwillautomatically release'any other stop and permit its retraction.

It is thought that from the foregoing, the construction, operation andadvantages of my line space tabulating mechanism will be fullyunderstood, but I reserve the right to effect such variations of theillustrated structure as may fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen'andprintingmechanism, relatively movable in a direction to line spacearecord printed on a work element carried by the platen. of means forselecting the desired line position and forarresting relative movementof the platen and printcupying progressive line positions and in Lilli?Mil lid

dividually movable into -active* position to I e tlect line selection,and means coactingwith the active stop to arrest relative movement ofthe platen and printingmechanism with the printing point located at theselected line.

eoasi'r 3. In a typewriting machine, the com bination with a fiat platenand printing mechanism, relatively movableto line space a record printedon a work element carried by the platen, and line selecting mechanismincluding coacting stops associated with the printing mechanism andplaten, re spectively, certain of said stops being egrtended along thelaten in successive line space positions and individually movable toselect theline at which the printing point will be located when relativemovement of the platen and printing mechanism is arrested.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and printingmechanism movable thereover in a direction to space the lines of arecord printed on a Worlrclement carried by the platen, of lineselecting mechanism including a series oi line selecting stops spacedalong one side edge of the platen and individually movable to select ainc position and to arrest the movement of the printing mechanism whensuch line position is reached. j i.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with, a flat platen andprinting mechanism, relatively movable in a direction to line space theprinted record, of a series of line selecting keys associated with thelaten, and a series of line selecting stops in ividually movable by thekeys into position to arrest the relative movement of the platen andprinting mechanism at a selected line.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a stationary flat,platen and printing mechanism movable thereover to line space the rintedrecord, of a series of line selecting reys located outside oi theprinting area of the-platen, and a series of line selecting stopsccupying progressive line positions and individually movable, intoposition to arrest the printing mechanihm, upon the depression of a keyto select aline.

7. In a typewriting machine, the conibihation of'a platen and printingmechanism, relatively movable to space the printed record of a series ofline selecting eys associated with the platen, stops operated by thekeys to arrest the relative movement of the platen and printingmechanism at the line selected by the particular key depressed,meansfoi' retracting the selected stop; and means whereby the operationof a ey to select a new line will cause the retraction of the previously operated stop.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and printingmechanism,

relatively movable to line space the record,

of a series of normally aligned stops, and a group of line selectingkeys, arranged in staggered formation, and each operative to move one ofthe aligned stops into position to arrest the relative movement oi theplaten relatively moval'ile to line space the record, of a series ofnormally aligned stops, a

group, of line selecting keys arranged in staggered formation and eachoperative to move one of the aligned stops into position to arrest therelative movement of the platen and printing mechanism at the lineselected by thedcprcssion of a key, and means whereby the depression ofa key will effect the locking thereof in depressed position and theretraction of the key previously operated.

10. In 'atypewriting machine, the combination with a platen and printingmechanism, relatively movable to line space the printed record, of aseries of line selecting stops occupying, progressive line positions anddisposed along one side of the platen, keys for moving said stopsindividually into active position to select the line and to cause theretraction of a previously operated stop, and means for adjusting theseries of stops as a unit to secure the accurate line location thereof.

11. The combination with a stationary platen and a movable frame, of astop movable with the frame, and a bodily adjustable normally stationaryseries of stops individw ally movable into interfering relation with thestop first named.

12. The combination with a platen and printing mechanism relativelymovable in the direction of line spacing, of line space tabulatingmechanism including a series'of vieldingly urged to its active position,said lade being movable to an inoperative position by any one of theseries of stops :to release any sto previouslyo erated.

M. In a tabu sting mechanism, the combination with a series of stopsyieldingly retaihed in normal inactive position and each havin a toothaligned- With the teeth of all the ot ier stops, and a movable lockingblade tinnwith a platen and printing mechanism,

arranged to hold any stop in its operated position by engagement withits tooth and movable to release said stop by the next stop moved tooperative position.

15. In a line space tabulating mechanism, the combination with a seriesof line selecting tabulator stops movable individually to operativeposition, of means for edecting the "bofiily adjustment of said seriesof stops, means for automatically looking any operated stop, and meansfor efiecting the automaticrelease of said stop upon the subse- 6 quentoperation of another of said line solecting stops..

16. In a line space tabulating mechanism, the combination with a; blockhaving transmommy verse stop guities and a lon 'ituoimtl room;

of, stops mounted in the. guides and filming ratchet teeth, and a stopKoo-king 'bhdo mounted in the longitudinal rocoss and disposed to engagethe teeth of oil the stays,

In testimony whereof I hereunto ofim my signature. HARRY A. FGQTHU RW;

